The US desperately wants those 3 spots back, so it will be on BOTH Wagner and Gold to get the job done. Wagner cannot do it by herself - even if she WON worlds last year it wouldn't have been enough thanks to Czisny's epic meltdown...

A team is only as good as its weakest link. Gold has an unconvincing record and Wagner has had recent freeskate struggles. Not a good sign.

For Wagner, I'm thinking a turnout like Meissner 2008 worlds is most likely, where she falls 1 or 2 times in the free en route to a 6th or 7th place finish. Or worse (!), if the current trend is any indication....maybe it's not so far fetched to imagine a scenario where Gold is the higher finisher.

Hmm. I'm thinking it's good for Gold to get some more international experience at 4CC before being thrust into Worlds--the USFSA knew what they were doing there. If she medals, maybe it'll boost her confidence even more. Her main struggles this season have been with nerves, and she's currently seeing a sports psychologist to refine her mental standpoint. I have no doubt she's capable of finishing in the top six or eight, but the 1 in 3 record is worrying. A SC or Nats-quality SP would bury her.

A month ago I thought Wagner was a lock for 3rd or 4th, with about 5 good skates in a row, marred only by the 2 fall GpF which still scored Well. Now we have two 2-fall comps in a row. Wagner is no longer a lock for 3rd or 4th, and could easily fall to 6th or 7th. I think Gold may outskate Wagner, but like at Omaha, I don't know if the judges will score her higher than Wagner, let alone people like Suzuki, Sotnikova, and Osmond. I agree Gold should go to 4CC while she is hot coming off her Omaha FS. She needs international exposure to build up her PCS, as she doesn't want to get buried after the SP due to low PCS.